Beer-racking apparatus.



S. 6; N. SCHLANGEN.

BEER BACKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. 1914.

1,155,009-' Patented Sept. 28, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

COLUMBIA PLANDORAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. 0. c.

S. & N. SCHLANGEN.

BEER BACKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLED MAYIB. m4.

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5 ff/2:12 II COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH cm, WASHINGTON, D. c.

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sinn- BEER-BACKING APPARATUS.

1,1 canoe.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. as, rain.

Application filed May 18, 1814. Serial No. 839,200.

To cll'tnhom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SIMON SCHLANGEN and NIoi-roms SOI-ILANGEN, both citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful I1n provements in Beer-Backing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to beer racking apparatus of the general type and character shown in patents of Simon Schlangen, No. 9420,3256, dated Nov. 16, 1909, and No. 1,009,695, dated llovQQl, 1911.

Among the objects'aimed at by the invention are; to provide a construction whereby it shall be possible to secure an even and uniform filling of the packages re-, gardless of the variations in the amounts of expansion and contraction which dilierent packages exhibit under the application and release of the counter-pressureto which they are subjected in the filling operation, to provide a construction not requiring any adjustment of parts to adapt it to thefilling of packages of different sizes; to provide a construction wherein the contents of the filled package shall be vented to the atmosphere through the counter-pressure return pipe during the withdrawal of the filling tube from the package, thereby insuring the complete filling of the package by back-flow oi liquid from the counter-pressure return pipe to fill the space created by the with drawal oi the filling tube regardless of the amount of expansion and contraction of the package; to provide a construction which will inore effectively prevent waste and loss of beer at the bung of the package when the 3 seal is broken; and generally, to provide a simplified and improved racking mechanism of the type referred to.

Other objects and advantages of the invcntion will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accoinpanying drawings forming a part of tlns specification, in which Figure 1 is a view in front elevation, par ti ally broken out, of the apparatus shown in register with the bung hole of a barrel and in filling position relatively to the latter; Fig. 2 isa similar view showing the parts of the apparatus in the relative positions occupied thereto just prior to the breaking of the seal; Fig. 1s a view of the apparatus in side e evation, insection through the tank and barrel, the parts being shown in filling position, as in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a substantially central vertical section in a plane. transverse to the tank and barrel, showing the latter filled and the parts in the relative positions which they occupy just prior to the breaking of the seal; Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view in central vertical section through the sealing head, fill- 1ng tube, and the guiding and actuating devices therefor, and showing the counter pressure supply valve closed and the counter-pressure return valve open; Fig. 7 is an enlarged front'elevational view of the parts shown in the upper. portion of Fig. 6; Fig: 8 is a vertical section through the telescoping portions of the counter-pressure return pipe; Fig. 9 is a detail view in vertical section through the counter-pressure return pipe and lower valve, and Fig. 10 is a fragn1entary detail view in section of the upper portion of the counter-pressure return pipe showing the cut-0f? valve and the atmospheric vent therein.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the apparatus, 10 designates a tank containing a supply 110i beer or other liquor to beracked, as indicated in Figs/3 and 4., this liquor being contained in the tank under a pressure of air in the upper portion of the tank, as known in this type of apparatus. cecured to one side of the tank is a bracket 12 .(Figs. 3 and 4), on which bracket is swiveled on a horizontal pivot 13 a yoke 1 1, between the forwardly extending arms of which is swiveled, on horizontal pivots 15 atright angles to the pivot 13 a plate 16. The said plate 16 forms in part the lower head of a superposed power cylinder 17 containing a piston 18 (Fig. 1), to which is connected 21 depending piston rod 19 extendingthrough a stufiing box in the plate 16. From the plate 16 are hung apair of vertical rods 20 which, with the plate 16 anda lower cross connection 21, form the mainframe structure that is stationary, except as to the universal swivel capacitywhich it hasby virtue of the pivots 13 and 15'.

Slidably mounted in bearings in the upper and lower members 16 and 21 of the main frame are a pair of rods 22 that are connected at their upper ends by a heavyyoke or cross-head 23, between their ends by an intermediate cross-head 24, and at their lower ends by a sealing head 25; these parts together forming a gravity-actuated frame that is slidable up and down on and relatively to the main frame.

Slidably mounted on the vertical. rods 22 of the grzwity-actuated frame are upper and lower cross-heads 26 and 27, respectively,

(Fig. 6) that are spaced apart by a pair of compression springs 28 that conveniently surround andare guided by the frame rods 22. The cross-heads 26 and 27 with their interposed springs 28 together form what we term a power-actuated frame that is mounted upon and slidable relatively to the gravity-actuated frame already described. The upper cross-head 26 is rigidly connected to the lower end of the piston rod 19. Secured to and depending-from the lower cross head 27 is a filling tube 29 that extends centrally through the sealing head 25, being suitably packedin the latter by a stuiiing box 30. Secured to the upper cross-head 26 1s a depending valve-stem 31 that extends cen- V trally throughthe filling tube 29 and, at its lower end, carries a valve 32 that controls the lower end of the filling tube in a manner clearly evident from Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 1 showing this valve in open position, and Fig. 2 showing it in closed position. On thellower cross-head 27 is a valve chamber or housing 33, in one side of which is an opening 34 that communicates with a beer supply hose 35 leading from the bottom of .thetank 10, said hose having a manually operated cook or valve 36.

7 Referring next to the means for admitting the counter-pressure medium from the tank 10 to the barrel to be filled, 37 designates a valve casing mounted on the sealing head 25 to one side of the filling tube, the

lower end of said valve casing communicating through a duct 38 with the central bore of the sealing head 25 through which the.

lever 44 between the ends of the latter. This lever is pivoted to a dependinglug 45 onthe intermediate crosshead 24 of the gravityactuated frame, while its other endis pivotally connected to adepending cam member 46, the lower end of .whichlatter is connected to a rod 47 guided in 'a lug 48 formed on the sealing head 25. Secured to or integral with the upper cross-head 26 of the power-actuated frame is a rearwardly'ex tending bracket 49 on which 'ispivote'd a valve-tripping device 50 carrying a roller 51 adapted to engage the outer side of the cam piece 46 during the descent of the crosshead 26. The tripping device 50 has a counter-weight 52 in the rear of its pivot that normally swings the tripping device into contact with a stop-pin 53 in the bracket 49, thus limiting the upward swing of the roller 51, and making the downward move-v ment of the tripping device efi'ective. to depress the lever 44 and thereby open the valve 41, the open position of said valve being maintained during the travel of the roller 51 over the cam piece 46. As the roller slides off the inclined lower end 46 of the cam piece, the valve spring 42 at once reacts to close the valve 41. On the return or risin movement of the tripping device the roller51, as it engages the inclined lower end 46 of the cam piece swings downwardly andidly engages the cam piece, and, asit passes off the upper end of the latter,

the counter-weight 52 returns it to normal operativeposition, as shown in Fig; 4.

1 The abovedescribed counter-pressure supply valve mechanism is notclaimed herein, but forms in part the subject matter of anapplication filed by us on the 7th day of May, 1914, Serial No. 836,908. I

Referring next to the mechanism for con trolling the return of the counter-pressure medium from thepackage during the filling of the latter, in association with which are embodied the main novel features of. the present invention, by wlnch the space left in the package by the retraction of the filling.

tube is compensated for by a return flow of liquid temp rarily trapped in the counterpressure return pipe, 54. designates a valve casing mounted on the sealing head on the opposite side of the filling tube 29, with one side of which is connected a vertically extending pipe section 55. The valve casing 54 communicates through its lower end with a duct 56 leading into the annular space of the sealing head surrounding the filling tube, and this communication is controlled by a vertically movable puppet valve 57 that coiiperates with a valve seat on the lower end of the valve casing, the valve being normally held closed by a spring '58. The valve 57 has a short upwardly extending stem 59 (Fig. 6), at the upper end of which is a plunger head 60 guidedin the valve casing 54 and located above the lateral. communication of the pipe 55 with said valve casing. The upper end of the pipesection 55fextends through and is guidedin a forwardly projecting lug or bracket 16 formed on the plate 16, as best shown in the detail view, Fig. 8, and, above said lug orbracket has a telescoping engagement with an upper stationary pipe section 61 mounted. onthe bracket 16. The lower end of the pipesection'61 containsa sight glass 62, and its up per end is connected by a pipe or a hose 63 with the other side of the T-coupling 40. In the upper portion of the upper stationary pipe section 61 is located a cut-off valve or cock (34, shown in detail in Fig. 10, and just below the same is a short downwardly turned vent pipe 65 containing a check valve 66.

The motor, represented by the cylinder 17 and piston 18, is operated by any suitable motive fluid whichmay be the compressed air in the upper portion of the tanklO, by means of the apparatus commonly employed for this purpose and shown in the two patents hereinbefore referred to, such apparatus comprising a valve casing 67 secured to the main frame and containing an ordinary four-way cook, the stem of which has an operating crank arm 68. To opposite sides of the valve casing (57 are connected pipes 69 and 70 leading to the upper and lower ends of the cylinder- 17 respectively. To the upper side of the valve casing 67 is connected a supply pipe 71 leading from the T-coupling 10, and on the lower side of the valve casing (57 is an exhaust or vent nozzle? When the crank arm 68 is swung in one direction pressure fluid is admitted to the top of the cylinder 17 and exhausted from the lower end ofthe latter, and when the handle is swung in the reverserlirection the pressure fluid is admitted to the bottom of the cylinder and exhausted from the top thereof. The cut-off valve 64; is designed to be operated from and simulta neously with the manually operated valve 67, for which purpose a crank arm 73 (Fig,

on the stem of the cut-off valve 64: is connected by a link 74: with the operating arm 68, the connection being such that when,

with the parts in the relative positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and with the barrel filled and the liquid showing in the sight glass, the valve 67 is manipulated to admit motive fluid beneath the piston 18 so as to close the valve atthe lower end of the filling tube and retract the latter from the barrel, the cut-off valve 64: is closed, whereupon the atmospheric vent G5becomes operative to admit atmospheric pressure above the liquid retained in the counter-pressure return pipe so as to permit such liquid to flow back into the barrel to such an extent as may be necessary to compensate for the space of the filling tube in the barrel or so much thereof is not compensated for by contraction or shrinkage of the barrel when the artificial pressure is cut oil and the atmospheric pressure is admitted. lVhen the manually operated valve 6? is manipulated to admit pressure to the upper end of the motor cylinder,

the cut-off valve Si is, of course, opened, and

the check valve 66'automatically prevents escape of the artificial pressure through the vent. 05.

The valve 57 which controls the lowerend having a laterally olfset branch 78 that is.

pivotally connected to a link bar 79 in which are formeda corresponding series of holes 80. The lower end of thelink bar 79 is pivotally connected to anarm81 that is fast on a short shaft 82 journaled in. the upper end of the valvecasing 54:. On the shaft 82, within the upper end of the valve casing, is a cam 83 (Figs. (3 and 9) that engages the plunger head 60 of the valve, opening the latter when the parts are in the relative positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3. It will thus appear that the bars 7 5 and 79 and the up per and lower arms 7'? and 31 form a parallelogram frame,the upper end of the bar 79 being preferably guided in an are shaped slot 8% formed in a casting 85 secured to the cross-head 2%. The free end of the arm 77 is forked, as shown at 86, and this forked end is engaged by a roller 87 (Fig. 7 projecting forwardly from the cross-head 26, to actuate the link bar 79, arm 81, shaft 82, and cam 83.

l/Ve have also shown in this apparatus a safety device for preventing injury to the long stem 31 of the filling tube valve 32 throughcareless handling of the apparatus and failure to properly register the lower end of the sealing head with the bung hole of the package during the descent of the sealing head; this device comprising a short rod or bar 88 (Figs. 3 and 4:) pivoted tothe upper cross-head 26 and normally spanning the space between said cross-head and the top of the valve housing 33, so that it blocks inward relative movement of said cross-heads during their descent so long as it is between them. On this bar is formed a laterally extending arm 89 that, after. the sealing head has been registered with the bung of the package, and during the further descending movement of the filling tube, strikes :1 fixed stop-rod 90 mounted uponthe sealing head, and thereby rocks the lockbar 8 8 from between the cross-heads, permitting the further downward "movement of the cross head 26' necessary to open the valve 32. From this it will be seen that in case the operator allows the valve 32 to strike. the top of thebarrel during the descent of the apparatus, the strain is not all taken by the relatively slender valve stem 31 but is effectively resisted by the filling tube itself, a which is rigid with the lower crossehead 27, whereby bending or oth er. possible injury to end of the filling head engages the bung hole 91 of thebarrel 91. I The power-actuated frame carrying the filling tube and its valve continues to descend until the lower cross-head 27 strikes the lower cross-head 21 of'the mainv frame, as shown in Fig. 6. Thereupon the upper cross-head 26 descends still farther, compressing the springs 28, until it strikes the top of the valve housing 33, thereby fully opening the valve 32 of the filling tube and permitting the liquid to flow into the barrel. During this descending operation, the counter-pressure supply valve 41 is opened by the engagement of the roller 51 with the cam 46, whereby the pressure in the tank 10 is admitted to the barrel before the liquid begins to flow. The manipulation of the manuallyoperated valve 67 to. cause this descending movement of the parts simultaneously opens the cut-ofi' valve 64:; and during the descending movement the roller 87 engages the forked end 86 of the arm 77 and, through the described connections, rocks the cam 83 and opens the coun ter-pressure return valve 57 to the position shown in Fig. 6. The valve actuating mechanism, during this movement, is shifted from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1. The liquidis permitted to flow until the barrel is filled and the liquid has risen in the counter-pressure return pipe to a point where it shows in the sight glass 62. The operator then reverses the valve 67, admitting pressure beneath the piston 18, which simultaneously closes the cut-off valve Get. On the ascending movement the valve 32 is first closed, and the filling tube rises out of the barrel during which movement the roller i 87 engages the forked end 86 of the arm 7 7, rocking the latter upwardly andthereby actuating the cam 83 to a position to permit the valve 57 to close by its spring 58. In practice, the arm 77 is set atv such a position on the bar 75 that the valve 57 is allowed to remain open until enough of theliquid trapped in the pipe 55 has run back to completely fill the space in the barrel occupied by the filling "tube. This amount is variable with different packages owing to variations in the expansion and contraction of the latter under the efiectof the pressure but the valve-actuating arm 77 is so set as to take care of packages having little or no shrinkage, and this, of course, insures ample return flow ofliquid in the case of packages having'considerable expansion and shrinkage. The vent 65, after the cut-off valve 64 is closed, admits atmospheric pressure to the top of the liquid in the counter-pressure return pipe so as to permit the back-flow of such liquid and at thesame time bring the liquid in the pipe and in the packageunder atmospheric pressure, thus avoiding an explosion at the bung hole when the seal is broken. Thearni 77 is adjusted to positions which experiment shows yield the best results with a minimum of liquid retained in the counter-pressure pipe after the valve 57 is permitted to close. This device, once adjusted, is constant for barrels or kegs of various diameters, since the distance between the roller 87 and the forked end of the arm 77 engaged thereby is always proportional to the length of the filling tube within the barrel or keg.

We claim: e V

'1. In a racking apparatus, the combination with a filling tube, and means for moving the same into and out of the package to be filled, of a pipe serving to permit flow of a counter-pressure medium from the package and also to trap sufiieient liquid to fill, by back-flow therefrom, the space in the package caused by the withdrawal of the filling tube, a cut-off valve in said pipe located at a point above the liquid trapped therein, and an atmospheric vent -in said pipe also located at a point above the liquid trapped therein and operative when said cut-ofi valve is closed.

2. In a racking apparatus, the combination with a filling tube, and means for moving the same into and out of the package to be filled, of a pipe serving to permit flow of a counter-pressure medium from the package and also to trap sufiicient liquid to fill,

by back-flow therefrom, the space in the package caused by the withdrawal of the filling tube, a cut-off valve in said pipe located at a point above the liquid trapped therein, an atmospheric vent in said pipe also located at a point above the liquid trapped therein and operative when said cut-off valve is closed, a valve at the lower end of said pipe, and automatic means for opening said last named valve during the package-entering movement of said filling tube and for closing the same during the Withdrawal movement of said filling tube.

3. In a racking apparatus, the combination with a filling tube, and means for moving the same into and-out of the package to be filled, of a pipe serving to permit flow of a counter-pressure medium from the package and also to trap sufficient liquid to fill, by back-flow therefrom, the space in the package caused by the withdrawal of the filling tube, a cut-off valve in said pipe located at apoint above the liquid trapped therein,

an atmospheric vent in said pipe operative the package-entering and withdrawal movements of said filling tube, respectively.

l. In a. racking apparatus, the combination with a filling tube, and means for moving the same into and out of the package to be filled, of a pipe serving to permit flow of a counter-pressure medium from the package and also to trap suflicient liquid to fill, by back-flow therefrom, the space in the package caused by the withdrawal of the, filling tube, a cut-0d valve in saidpipe lo-r cated at a point above the liquid; trapped therein, an atmospheric vent insaid pipe operative when said cut-ofi valveis closed, a valve at the lower end or, saidpipe, and

automatic means controlledby said filling tube actuating means for opening and closlng said last named valve at any predetermined point in the package-entering and withdrawal movements of said filling tube, respectively. n

o. n a rac rin appara us, e com ma tion with a filling tube, and means for moving the same into and outof the package to.

be filled, of a pipe serving to permit flow of a counter-pressure mediumfrom the package and also to trap sufficient liquid to fill, by back-flow therefrom, the space in, the package caused by the withdrawal of the filling tube, a cut-off valveiin said pipe located at a point above the liquid trapped therein, an atmospheric vent in said pipe operative when said cut-off valve is closed, a a valve at the lower end of said pipe, a spring.

normally holding said last named valve closed, and means actuated by said filling tube actuating means serving to open said last named valve and to permit its closure by said spring at any predetermined point in the package-entering and withdrawal movements of said filling tube, respectively.

6. In a racking apparatus, in combination, a main frame, a gravity-actuated frame slidably mounted on said main frame andcarryinga sealing head, a power-actuated frame slidably mounted on said gravity-actuated frame, a filling tube depending from said poweractuated frame 'and extending through said sealing head, a valve controlling the lower end of said filling tube, a counter-pressure return pipe mounted on said sealing head and communicating through the latter with the package to be filled, a cut-off valve located in the upper portion of said pipe, an atmospheric vent in said pipe operative when said cut-off valve is closed, a valve at the lower end of said pipe, and automatic means controlled by said poweractuated frame for opening and closing said last named valve at any predetermined point in theto-and-fro travel, respectively, of said. power-actuated frame relatively to the package.

. In a racking apparatus, in combination,

a omain frame, a gravityractuated frame" slidably mounted on said main frame and carrying a sealing head, a power-actuated frame slidably mounted on said gravityactuated frame, a. filling tube depending from said power-actuated frame and extending through said sealing head, a valve controlling the lower end of said filling tube, a counter-pressure return pipe comprising upper and lower telescoping pipe sections mounted on said main frame and sealing head, respectively,a cut-off valve in said I upper pipe section, an atmospheric vent in said upper pipesection operative when sald cut-off valve is closed, a sight-glass in said upper pipe section below said cut-off valve,

a valve at the lower end of said lower pipe section, andautomatic means controlled by said poweractuated frame for opening and closing said last named valve at any predetermined point in the toand-fro, travel, re-

spectively, of said power s actuated frame relatively to the package.

8. In a racking apparatus, in combination, a main frame, a gravity-actuated frame slidably mounted on said main frame andcarrying a sealinghead, a power-actuated frame slidably mounted on said gravity-actuated.

frame, a filling tube depending; from said poweractuated frame and extending through said sealing head, a valve controlling the lower end of said filling tube, a

counter pressure return pipe mounted on said sealing head and communicating through the latter with the package to be filled, a cut-off valve located in the upper portion of said pipe, an atmospheric vent in said pipe operative when said cut-off valve is closed, a valve at the lower end of said pipe, an actuating mechanism for said last named valve mounted on said gravity-actuated frame, and a member carried by said power actuated frame serving to operate said valveactuating mechanism on both the to-and-fro movements of said power-actuated frame.

9. In a racking apparatus, in combination, a main frame, a gravity-actuated frame slidably mounted on said main frame and carrying a sealing head, a power-actuated frame slidably mounted on said gravityactuated frame, a filling tube depending from said power-actuated frame and extending throughsaid sealing head, a valve controlling the lower end of said filling tube, a counter-pressure return pipe mounted on said sealing head and communicating through the latter with the package to be filled, a cut-off valve located in the upper portion of said pipe, an atmospheric vent in said pipe operative when said cut-off valve is closed, a valve at the lower end of said pipe, an actuating mechanism for said last named; valve mounted on said gravityactuated frame and adjustable vertically of the latter, and a member carried by said power-actuated frame serving to operate "said valve-actuating mechanism on both the to-and-fro movements of said power-actuated frame. I

10. In a racking apparatus, in combination, a main frame, a gravity-actuated frame cylinder mounted on said main frame, a

piston in said cylinder connected to said last named cross-head, a manually operated valve controlling the admission and exhaust of motive fluidto opposite ends of said cylinder, and connections between said manu- 1 ally operated valve and said cut-off valve whereby when said manually operated valve is manipulated to admit motive fluid to the lower end of said cylinder said cut-ofi valve is closed. I V v Y 11. In a racking apparatus, in combination, a main frame, a gravity-actuated frame slidably mounted on said main frame and carrying a sealing head, a cross-head slidably mounted on said gravity-actuated frame and having a depending filling tube extending through said sealing head, another crosshead slidably mounted on said gravityactuated framejand having a depending valvestem extending through said filling tube, a valve on the lower end of said valve-stem, a counter-pressure return pipe communieating through said sealing head with the package to be filled, a cut-off valve in the upper portion ofsaid pipe, an atmospheric vent in said pipe operative when said cut 01? valve is closed, a valve atthe lower end of said pipe, an actuating mechanlsm for said last named valve mounted on said gravity-ac-.

tuated frame and adjustable vertically of the latter, amember carried by one of said crossheads serving to operate said valve-actuating mechanism on both the infand out movements of said filling tube relatively to the package, a motor cylinder mounted on said main frame, a piston in said cylinder connected to said valve-stem-carrying crosshead, a manually operated valve controlling the admission and exhaust of motive fluid to opposite ends of said cylinder, and connections between said manually operated valve and said cut-ofl" valve whereby when said manually operated valve is manipulated to admit motive fluid to the lower end of said cylinder said cut-off valve is closed.

' SIMON SCHLANGEN. v NICHOLAS SCHLANGEN. Witnesses:

S. N. POND, A. G. LATIMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0. Y 

